The leaves are changing, so go play golf

Every year at this time, I reveal the revelatory fact that this is the best time of the year to go golfing.

School is back in session, the frantic pace of getting a tee time is lessened, and yet you still can get in nine holes after work!

What else do you need!?

Aside from a quick lesson from your local PGA professional to fix some of those loose ends bugging your game. (The club championships still are on the horizon at Dalton Ranch and Hillcrest Golf Clubs.)

The upcoming fall season is approaching faster than I would like to see.

Did I mention I saw some leaves already turning?

Sorry, I could not help myself. I just love the change of seasons and the crispness in the air in the early mornings, and that goes for getting in an early tee time and then enjoying the rest of your day.

Congratulations to two area golfers who recorded holes-in-one recently at Hillcrest: Pats on the back go to Mike Hannigan and Cheryl Carson, both of whom aced the par-3 15th hole.

Hillcrest will host the 38th annual First National Bank 1-2-3-4 Person Best Ball on Saturday.

There is $500 in added prize money and an entry fee of $35 per player.

Ninety percent handicaps will be used.

Players must be registered by 8 a.m. the morning of the tournament so team drawings can take place.

Coffee and doughnuts will be served starting at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.

For more information, call Hillcrest at 247-1499.

Dalton Ranch will host its monthly Couples Tournament on Sunday.

The field is limited to the first 48 players, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

For more information, call the Dalton Ranch pro shop at 247-8774.

A reminder: The Durango High School Invitational golf tournament will be played Monday at Hillcrest and Tuesday at Dalton Ranch, while the DRGC Ladies Club Championship will be held Sept. 12-13.

The third annual Durango and Farmington Lions Club Charity Golf Tournament will be held Sept. 22 at the Glacier Club north of Durango.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Lions Club community programs in the Four Corners.

The format is a 4-person scramble, and the entry fee is $150 per player, which includes greens fee, cart, full lunch after golf, prizes and a donation to the Lions Club.

The entry deadline is Sept. 17.

For more information, call 799-7652.

The Bayfield High School Fall Scramble Golf Tournament also will be played Sept. 22 at Hunterís Run Golf Course in Oxford between Bayfield and Ignacio.

This event, with proceeds to benefit the BHS boys basketball program, has a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. for the 18-hole tournament.

The cost is $250 for each four-person team, which includes greens fee, carts, lunch sponsored by First National Bank of Durango and catered by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and prizes.